Many parents are faced with a problem such as hemangioma in children. This is a benign formation that appears in infancy. Do not panic if the baby has such a red spot. How to behave properly in such a situation will be discussed in detail below.
general description
Hemangioma in children under one year of age is a fairly common disease. This neoplasm is a benign tumor that can appear at birth or in the first months of a baby's life. The maximum period when hemangioma may appear is 2 months.
Every tenth child on the planet has a similar neoplasm. Scientists still do not agree on what causes a similar anomaly. However, there are several theories on this subject. Statistics say that in most cases, hemangiomas appear in girls. Boys are less likely to get this disease. For 3 girls, there is only 1 boy who has hemangioma.
The presented neoplasm may look like a small speck. It is flat and can have different sizes. Volumetric hemangiomas also occur. Sometimes they grow in breadth or in depth. Moreover, the size of such an education can be any. Very large hemangiomas occur. There may also be several. If there are more than three such neoplasms on the body, they are on the internal organs.
Hemangiomas in children have one main symptom that distinguishes them from other similar pathologies. They consist of degenerated cells of the inner surface of blood vessels. Moreover, in the vast majority of babies, such formations pass independently without outside help.
Causes of occurrence
Hemangioma on the face of a child or other parts of the body can cause serious anxiety in parents. The reasons for the appearance of such neoplasms are not known to science. There are a number of hypotheses that have not yet been confirmed. However, they cannot be denied.
It is worth noting that doctors agree on only one thing. The nature of the occurrence of such pathologies excludes heredity. Scientists have found that the mechanism of hemangioma occurs at the stage of development of the vascular system of the fetus. This occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Due to reasons unknown to science, endothelial cells (the inner surface of blood vessels) end up in places not intended for them. After birth, they degenerate into benign tumors.
Hemangioma can occur on the skin, mucous membrane, and even on internal organs. After birth, it develops, increases. However, almost always, by 5-7 years of life, the child does not have such pathologies. The risk of such a pathology increases if the pregnancy is multiple, the baby is born prematurely, the mother's age exceeds 38 years. Also, eclampsia during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of hemangioma.
Modern methods of treating hemangiomas in children make it possible to get rid of such formations quickly and simply. However, knowing the life cycle of such formations, one can decide on the advisability of surgical intervention.
Development phases
Hemangioma in a child on his head, face, body parts is most often located in "safe" places. It is located at a distance from vital organs and mucous membranes. However, there are exceptions. In some cases, surgery is imperative.
In other cases, the neoplasm must be observed. He has several stages of development. Hemangioma appears first. This can happen in the womb or in the first few weeks after birth. Next comes the phase of its active growth. It lasts until the child is one year old. After that, its growth slows down and stops. Further, it ceases to grow at all.
After this, the phase of reverse development begins. Hemangioma begins to decrease gradually. The phase of involution and complete disappearance of the neoplasm occurs when the child reaches the age of 5-7 years. In some cases, this process lasts up to 10 years. At the same time, even traces of a hemangioma do not remain on the skin.
According to statistics, 50% of such formations pass when the child reaches the age of five. Of the remaining mass of children with hemangioma, 70% say goodbye to 7 years of age. Another 28-29% of them will forget about the tumor by 9-10 years of life. Only in 1-2% of children, such formations degenerate into other forms of pathologies and do not pass on their own. The reappearance of hemangiomas is absolutely ruled out. It passes without consequences.
Varieties
There are several varieties of such neoplasms. Cavernous hemangioma in children is a tumor that consists of dilated vessels with cavities. They have venous or arterial blood. Most often, this type of hemangioma spreads over the skin, does not grow deeper.
The formation of this type that appears in the liver is considered dangerous. It can also be in other organs, which are characterized by abundant blood supply. Revealing them is extremely difficult. Only in the event of complications can a similar tumor be diagnosed.
Cavernous hemangiomas in the liver, spleen, and brain are very dangerous. In case of accidental injury, a rupture of the tumor may occur. As a result, internal bleeding appears, which can be fatal.
Hemangioma in a child on the lip, on the face can be capillary. It never affects the inner layers and vessels of the dermis. These are intertwined capillary vessels. Their rupture is extremely rare. Such a neoplasm in diameter does not exceed 1 cm.
Mixed hemangioma is a capillary and cavernous tumor that fused together. This formation is dangerous in that outwardly it may look like a simple hemangioma. However, her break is likely.
Symptoms
In the international classification (ICD-10) hemangioma in children is assigned a specific code - D18.0. This is the common name for any types of such neoplasms. They have a number of symptoms that parents need to know. Often, such tumors appear in the scalp, as well as on the face (eyelids, cheeks, nose), in the oral cavity, on the genitals, in the upper body, on the arms, legs, bones and internal organs.
The spot size may vary. It can be only a few millimeters or occupy about 15 cm of surface or even more. The shape of the spot may be different. Its color also varies from pale pinkish to burgundy, with a bluish tinge. This formation is warmer than the surrounding tissue.
In addition to breaks, the danger of such formations lies in their infection. Also, hemangioma can grow deeper. It can compress tissues, affect internal organs. If such a formation appears on the mucous membranes, in the ears, on the nose, and also it is actively developing, this can lead to impaired hearing, smell, vision, etc.
According to reviews, the hemangioma in a child passes until the end of the puberty. Moreover, paler patches appear in its center. They gradually spread to the periphery. This process can take several years. If removal of the neoplasm is not recommended, you just need to patiently wait for the stain to pass by itself.
Diagnostics
Hemangioma in a child's face, body requires proper diagnosis. A medical professional will be able to advise parents not to resort to surgical treatment, or, conversely, surgical intervention is required. Surgeon controls the patient's condition. You can also consult a pediatrician or dermatologist.
In some cases, additional consultation with other medical professionals is required. It can be an ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, urologist or gynecologist. If the education is in the mouth, you will need to consult a dentist.
In the process of diagnosis, the doctor examines the patient. The neoplasm is palpated, auscultation is performed. Hemangioma is measured in diameter. You will also need to make a coagulogram and take a platelet count test.
To determine how deep the hemangioma grows, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound. This will make it possible to comprehensively evaluate the features of education and decide on further actions. In this case, the peculiarities of the hemangioma blood supply, its interaction with other vessels are determined.
In some cases, an x-ray is taken. This allows you to assess the condition of surrounding tissues.
When is the deletion shown?
Removal of hemangiomas in children is carried out in a number of cases. Surgical intervention is required if the neoplasm is located on the mucous membrane. It may be the larynx or the ear cavity. Also necessarily remove hemangioma of the eye in children. If this is not done, when the new development enters the phase of active growth, it can harm the baby. He may lose his sight, hearing. If the hemangioma is in the larynx, with its growth, the access of oxygen to the lungs can be completely blocked.
Tumors located in close proximity to physiological openings, for example, at the mouth, nose, anus, etc., are also subject to removal. The growth of hemangiomas is unpredictable. It can dramatically begin to expand deep into. At the same time, it is able to completely block the hole next to which it is located.
Tumors that are located in areas of increased trauma are also subject to removal. For example, on the abdomen or on the side, such an formation can easily be touched by clothing. The outcome is especially likely on the belt where the pants and skirts are fastened. On the stomach or in other easily accessible places, babies can just pick up such a neoplasm. It will cover a little, like an ordinary wound. However, infection with hemangiomas is very dangerous.
The doctor will also recommend removing the tumor if the child is already 1.5 years old, and she is still growing. If the child is 10 years old, and the education has not disappeared, surgery is also indicated. This is rare, but in 1-2% of cases this situation occurs.
Surgery
Today, no modern clinic removes hemangiomas with a scalpel. There are many ways that you can perform a procedure quickly and efficiently. Surgical treatment is an extreme measure when other methods cannot solve the problem.
One of the most modern approaches is the removal of hemangiomas by laser in children. Such a laser removes pathological tissue accurately and in layers. The accuracy of the surgeon is very high. At the same time, healthy tissues are not injured.
Laser removal of hemangiomas in children is carried out non-contact. This is a completely sterile procedure. Moreover, the technique is absolutely bloodless. The doctor visually monitors his actions. In this case, the cosmetic effect after laser therapy will be high. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. This is possible if the hemangioma is small.
With a significant tumor size, the treatment will be much more complicated and longer. The operation is done under general anesthesia. If the area of education is large, you will need to take a donor flap from the part of the body that will be under the clothes. This is especially important when performing surgery on the face, eyelid. Such an intervention is carried out only in an exceptional case. In the process, the child is given a blood transfusion.
Conservative treatment
Hemangioma in children can be treated with conservative methods. One popular approach is cryotherapy. In this case, carbon dioxide snow is used. This method is applicable for hemangiomas with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm.
Carbon dioxide snow is placed on the site of the tumor. At the same time, healthy tissues capture about 0.5 cm. After this, the appearance of a depressed surface can be observed. It swells, turns into a bubble. Then a crust appears. She disappears after 2 weeks.
Another option is the use of injections. They have a sclerosing effect on hemangioma vessels. After this treatment, connective tissue appears in its place. As the active substance, alcohol and a solution of quinine are used.
Using injections create an infiltration roller. It first forms around the tumor. Then this formation is concentrated in its center. Once a week, the procedure is repeated. At this time, the swelling should disappear. If the tumor is on the eyelid or in the mouth, surgical methods will be quite difficult to perform. Therefore, this approach is used. Injections have proven effective.
If the hemangioma is small, the doctor may advise electrocoagulation. The size of the tumor should not exceed 5 mm. It is affected by electric current. As a result, tissue formations coagulate. Then a crust appears. It passes over time on its own.
Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of subcutaneous neoplasms. This is one of the few methods that allows you to remove such tumors on the internal organs. Radiotherapy has a bad effect on the whole body of the patient. Therefore, it is prescribed no earlier than at the 6th month of the child's life.
Parent reviews
Parents whose children have been diagnosed with hemangioma often insist on surgery or other treatment for the tumor. However, over time, if the doctor does not recommend such interventions, they agree with the statement that hemangioma should not be treated. If she is in a safe place, it is best to let her go on her own. Many procedures, although they are as safe as possible, cannot guarantee that after such exposure there will be no scars. Therefore, parents say that if the doctor does not recommend surgery, the tumor just needs to be observed.
Having considered the features of the occurrence and treatment of hemangiomas in children, parents will be able to make the right decision about the next steps.